Just as Gov. Deval Patrick signs a bill to increase access to long term substance abuse addiction treatment, two more drug overdose deaths were reported in Worcester Wednesday.

Just as Gov. Deval Patrick signs a bill to increase access to long term substance abuse addiction treatment, two more drug overdose deaths were reported in Worcester Wednesday.

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Updated: 6:38 PM EDT Aug 6, 2014

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WEBVTT D.U.I. CHARGES AFTER BEING PULLED OVER WITH A 16-YEAR-OLD GEL IN HER CAR THREE WEEKS GUY. JUST AS GOVERNOR PATRICK SIGNS A BILL TO INCREASE ACCESS TO LONG-TERM SUBSTANCE ADDICTION TREATMENT TWO MORE OVERDOSE DEDEATHS IN WORCESTER TODAY ALONE. THERE IS BEEN NEARLY TWO A DAY SINCE THE FIRST OF AUGUST. AS JANET WU REPORTS, THOSE WHO KNEW THE LATEST VICTIMS ARE SKEPTICAL THINGS WILL CHANGE SOON. 10 DRUG OVERDOSES IN SIX DAYS HERE IN WORCESTER. IS NEWS IS PARTICULARLY DEVASTATING. THREE WERE MEMBERS HERE AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. ONE MAN WAS A CLOSE FRIEND OF SARA WILLIAMS. HE IS NOT THE FIRST PERSON I LOST. HE PROBABLY WON'T BE THE LAST BUT IT IS SIGNIFICANT TO ME RIGHT NOW. JUST TO KNOW THAT WE ARE ALL THAT BAD DECISION AWAY FROM NOT BEING HERE ANYMORE. IT IS DIFFICULT. IT IS HARD FOR ME TO SAY THIS, BUT WE SEE DEATH A LOT. KAY DEN SAID SHE IS GRATEFUL FEDERAL AND STATE OFFICIALS ARE RAMPING UP EFFORTS TO DEAL WITH THE CRISIS. HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO GET SERVICES TO THE STREET LEVEL? SO MANY ARE DESPERATE FOR TREATMENT. THEY SAY CALL BACK TOMORROW. THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY FOR AN ADDICT IS THIS BIG. AND WE ADDRESS OTHER ISSUES, HEALTH ISSUES IF YOU CALL YOUR DOCTOR AND YOU ARE HAVING CHEST PAINS DOES HE SAY CALL BACK IN THREE DAYS? HAYDEN KNOWS HOW CRITICAL IT IS TO HAVE THE HELP THERE WHEN AN ADDICT IS READY. I WAS SITTING IN M.C.I. FRAMINGHAM AND HAD A MOMENT OF CLARITY WHERE I SAID WHAT HAVE I DONE WITH MY LIFE? THAT WAS MORE THAN 20 YEARS GUY AND TODAY THE NATIONAL DEATH TOLL FROM OPIATE RELATED OVERDOSES HAS TRIPLED IN A DECADE. TREATMENT HAS NOT KEPT PACE. IT TAKES EIGHT PEOPLE TO DIE IN FIVE DAYS TO GET THE RESPONSE THAT WORCESTER HAS NEEDED. NOW THE WORCESTER RECOVERY COMMUNITY AGREES THAT THERE IS LIKELY A DEADLY BATCH OF HEROIN ON THE STREETS RIGHT NOW BUT THEY SAY THE CRISIS IS FAR

10 drug overdoses reported in Worcester in six days

Just as Gov. Deval Patrick signs a bill to increase access to long term substance abuse addiction treatment, two more drug overdose deaths were reported in Worcester Wednesday.